Meeting to decide whether to sell empty school buildings in Bristol

Four former schools in Bristol could be on the selling block in the near future if it is passed by the City Council.

A former middle school is already up for sale, and City Council members will discuss what to do with an additional three elementary schools - Jennings, Bingham and O'Connell - at a public meeting Tuesday night.

The city is expected to make several million dollars off the sale of the buildings. City officials also said it is putting the buildings up for sale because it does not want the buildings to remain empty and fall into disrepair.

The Jennings Elementary School, which was attended by students from grades kindergarten to fifth, was one of the schools consolidated by the city in 2011.

"I was pretty bummed actually when the school closed, because part of the reason that we chose the house that we did," said Marla Schaerrer, who lives near the former school. "Because it's right here, across the street from the school. We could walk over every day."

Schaerrer told Eyewitness News whatever replaces the school should be a good fit for the street and surrounding neighborhood.

"My concern would be actually comes into there and what ultimately ends up happening to it," she said.

City officials said the Jennings Elementary School as well as some of the other schools may be best suited for apartments or condominiums. Bingham School, which is located in the commercial district, may be better suited for offices, officials said.

The meeting, which is open to the public, is expected to start at 7 p.m. inside the City Council Chambers at Bristol City Hall.